Diving apparatus



Feb. 12, 1952 w, w gems, JR 2,585,712

DIVING APPARATUS Filed May 23, 1949 I 2 SHEETS--SHEEIT l V 24 Fig./. v Fig.2.

28 I 44 62 30 V g 20 20 24 34 24 y u cibb I! I J'! I 4 22 4 E E i o 28 Fly 3 2 I 2 22 o o 46 o 26 E 46 36 36 46 i0 Inventor Waller Wiggins, J1:

Feb. 12, 1952 W. WIGGINS, JR

DIVING APPARATUS 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed May 23, 1949 Fig.4.

In ven tor Waller Wiggins, J!-

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Patented Feb. 12, 1952 UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE V 2,585,712 DIVING APPARATUS Walter Wiggins, Jr., Washington, D. 0. Application May 23, 1949, Serial No. 94,841

This invention relates to new and useful -im-. provments and structural refinements in diving apparatus, and in particular the invention concerns itself with devices of this type which are specifically designed for submersion in an ocean, or a similar body of water, for the purpose of salvaging valuable material from the ocean bed.

,The object of the invention is carried out by the provision of a submersible vessel equipped under its bottom with a material handling device, such as for example, a clam bucket or grab, an important feature of the invention involving the provision of electric lamps ,under the vessel for illuminatingthe material "handling device and the region wherein it operates, together with what maybe referred to as an inverted-periscope for indirectly viewing, from the'interior of the vessel, the material handling device and its operation, as illuminated by said lamps.

Some of the advantages of the invention resid in its simplicity of construction, in its dependable and eflicient operation, and in its adaptability for use in various different fields of environment.

With the above more important objects and features in view and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention consists essentially in the construction and arrangement of parts as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 22 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional View, taken substantially in the plane of the line 4-4 in Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional detail illustrating the arrangement of the periscope used in the invention.

Like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts in the specification and throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the invention consists of a diving apparatus designated generally by the reference character ID, the same embodying in its construction a submersible vessel l2 which is preferably of an elliptical cross-sectional configuration so that it is better adapted to withstand external pressure of water when submerged, to which end the vessel may also be provided with 1 Claim. (01. 61-69) a set of inner and outer longitudinal reinforcing ribs [4, [6, respectively, as is best shown in Figures 2 and 4.

The outer reinforcing beams or ribs l6 are v extended upwardly so as to provide a crossshaped suspension member i8 above the vessel [2, this member affording a connection for a plurality of derrick cables 20 by which the entire apparatus may be lowered and raised.

A plurality of legs 22 are secured to the outer ribs l6 and extend downwardly and outwardly therefrom, being provided at their lower, ends with ballasted feet 24 which function to retain the entire vessel in a stable position on the ocean bed. 7

It may be explained at this point, that the body of the vessel 12 may be provided with a port hole cover or entrance door 2$and with a; plurality of lateral observation windows 28, and a floor 30 may be provided in the vessel above the bottom 32, as shown in Figure 4.

A set of pneumatic cylinders 34 are suitably mounted within the vessel l2 and are provided with reoiprocable control rods 36 which extend downwardly through the floor 30 and through the bottom 32 of the vessel and also through an X- shaped cross member 38 which rigidly connects together the legs 20 below the vessel, as will be clearly apparent.

The lower ends of the control rods 36 carry a suitable material handling device, such as for example a clam bucket 40, this being disposed below the cross member 38 and being adapted to be opened and closed by the rods 36. The air cylinders 34 are controlled through the medium of a suitable valve 42 disposed within the vessel 12 and connected by an air line 44 to a compressor (not shown) on the surface.

A plurality of electric lamps 46 are mounted on the under side of the cross member 38 for the purpose of illuminating the bucket 40 and the immediately adjacent area wherein the bucket operates, and the essence of novelty of the invention resides in the provision of means for indirectly observing the bucket 40 and its operation, as illuminated by these lamps.

These means consist of what may be referred to as an inverted periscope designated generally by the reference character 48, the same consisting of a straight sighting tube 50 which extends downwardly from the interior of the vessel I! through a portion of one of the legs 22, the intermediate portion of the tube 50 extending also through a reinforcing block 52 provided on one 55 of the interior ribs l4.

The upper end of the tube 50 is equipped with a lens 54 and with a light ray concentrating funnel 56, while the lower end portion of the tube accommodates an inclined mirror or reflector 58. A suitable window or lens 60 is provided on the inner surface of the leg 22 wherein the tube 50 is mounted, the window 60 being disposed below the cross member 38 and immediately adjacent the reflector 58 (see Figure 5) the latter being positioned at such an angle relative-to :thelongitudinal'axis of the tube 50 that by simply looking down the tube into the mirror 58, the bucket 40 and the general area wherein it operates may be observed indirectly from a lateral direction. In this manner, the operation of the bucket may be carefully observed without interference from the cross member 38 and from theqbucketitself, such as would be involved if the operation of the bucket were observed directly through an opening or window in the bottom 32 of the vessel.

Bynway- :of-radditional explanation, it maybe statedxthat the instant-apparatus :is': intended'r'to be raised to a height of a few feet aboveathemcean bed when suitable amaterialqhas been: gathered in the bucket .40 .so that :suchmaterial zmayihesldeposited into a :convenient'receptacle (not shown), lowered'ito the :ocean :bed with the vessel, thus eliminating the necessityof the entire vessel: being hoisted to thesurfacewith each load.

An electric cable-dizzis :connectedto theapparastusfor delivering 'current to thezlamps 46 and it will'benoted'th'at by being enclosed in'one of the'legs-i22, 'the' periscope assembly 48 isjeffectively'protected against :possible damage,v

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to beun'derstood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted 35 Number to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

In a. diving apparatus, the combination of a. submersible vessel, a set of downwardly projecting legs provided on said vessel, a cross-member connecting together said legs in a plane spaced upwardly fromthe lower ,ends thereof,,said crossmember being disposed below the bottom of the through one of sa'id'legsto a point 'i-n substantial horizontal alignment'with the -materialhandling device, the lower *endo'f sai'd periscopeter-mina'ting at the inner-surface of the associated leg whereby said device may be viewed indirectly and laterally from the interior of said vessel.

WALTER WIGGINS, JR.

REFERENCES, CITED The following references are of record "in the file of this patent:

UNITED. NSTASIESfPA'IENIIS :Name. 'Date Deemer May'z29, 1917 Maynard Apr. 12,11921 Arnold Jan; 29,1935 Sherman. Get. 29, :193-5 

